Protests, slogans greet Modi outside SRCC

Angry students shouted: "Modi go back!" and held up posters which read: "Expose Modi!"

NEW DELHI: Many students Wednesday protested outside Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the college.

Many of the protestors were students with membership of unions affiliated to the left parties.

Angry students shouted: "Modi go back!" and held up posters which read: "Expose Modi!"

Water cannons were reportedly used to disperse the protesting students.

Many of the students belonged to the All India Students' Association, the Students Federation of India and the All India Students Federation -- all Left-wing unions.

Wearing black clothes and masks of ghosts, students crossed the barricade and shouted slogans against Modi outside the college.

A large number of policemen were present at the site.

Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) is the alma mater of many leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Arun Jaitley, Vijay Goel, Jagdish Mukhi and Vijay Jolly.

Modi's talk at the college is about "Emerging business models in the global scenario".

Earlier in the day, Narendra Modi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and gave the prime minister a memorandum on issues related to the Sardar Sarovar dam.

"It was a good meeting. We spoke for quite a while on various issues," Modi told reporters after meeting the prime minister at his 7 Race Course Road residence.

Calling it a courtesy call, Modi said: 'I came to meet the Prime Minister for the first time after the formation of new government. I had a long discussion with the Prime Minister. The meeting was very cordial and I discussed several pending projects with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has assured of help and cooperation for development in Gujarat.'

"I also discussed gas prices and the Narmada irrigation project with him. The Prime Minister congratulated me for my new government. I also brought up the issue of Sardar Sarovar dam," he added.

This was Modi's first meeting with the Prime Minister after being sworn-in as the Gujarat Chief Minister again in December last year.

The Gujarat Chief Minister's visit to the national capital assumes significance in the wake of growing clamour in the BJP that he should be named as the party's 2014 prime ministerial candidate.

Speculations have been rife that Modi, who secured an electoral hat-trick in Gujarat in December last year, may spearhead the BJP's campaign in 2014 polls.

BJP leaders Yashwant Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha and noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani have earlier openly endorsed Modi's name as prime ministerial candidate. The other BJP leaders have been so far evasive on this issue.

Modi is scheduled to speak at a conclave organised by Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce later in the day. He is expected to talk on 'Emerging Business Models' in the global scenario. (With inputs from IANS)

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